   The spirit of giving has been alive and well since the early days of the United States, when French scholar Alexis de Tocqueville famously noted that Americans had a cultural inclination to create voluntary associations founded on principles of giving. A thriving civil society has always been a bedrock of American culture, and it is especially thrilling to highlight the impressive number of people that report taking part in a charitable activity during the last year – 70% of the population (an eight percentage point increase compared to 2017).
   As an organization committed to enabling domestic and international philanthropy, CAF is inspired and reassured to know that the majority of Americans believe in the positive impact charities have on their local communities, on the USA as a whole, as well as internationally. It is striking that more than six in ten – 62% of Americans – donated money to a charitable cause in the past year supporting a variety of causes and organizations, from animal welfare groups to religious organizations, organizations helping the poor, and colleges and universities.
   The spirit of giving is here to stay in the United States, and even on the rise!
   This Charitable Giving in the USA 2019 report is one of an international series, produced across the CAF GlobalAlliance, a world-leading network of organizations working at the forefront of philanthropy and civil society. The series also includes reports covering Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, India, Russia, South Africa and the UK.
   This is the second edition of this unique collection of country reports. As the series grows CAF will be able to look at trends in giving for the first time: why and how people of different ages and social groups give in different countries, the way they give, and who they give to, as well as gaining a better understanding of people’s participation in social and civic activities beyond financial donations and volunteering.
   CAF's analysis provides these key findings for individual giving in the USA:
- Compared to 2017, more people in this year’s survey report took part in charitable activity during the last 12 months (70%, up from 62% in 2017).
- More than six in ten (62%) Americans gave money in the last 12 months, either by donating to a charity, by giving to a church/religious organization, or by sponsoring someone. This is also significantly higher than the level in 2017, when CAFÂ reported that 55% had done so.
- Those aged 55 years and over are the most likely to have done any of the charitable activities, especially in terms of donating or sponsoring someone, both in the last four weeks and in the last 12 months.
- Religious organizations remain the most popular cause to donate to in America (38%).
- The median amount donated or sponsored in the last year is $100, remaining consistent since 2017.
- Giving using cash and also, online using a bank or credit card are the most popular methods of donation (both 39%).
- More than a third (35%) have volunteered in the last year, up from 31% in 2017. Religious organizations / churches are again the most popular cause (36%) in which to volunteer.
- The majority of Americans believe that charities have had a positive impact on their local communities, on the USA as a whole, and internationally.
- Having more money themselves is the thing most likely to encourage Americans to donate more in the coming 12 months, remaining unchanged since 2017 (47%).
For more information, please see the full report below.Â
The report was authored by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) America, posted on www.cafamerica.org in March 2019.Â
Photo Credits: Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) America
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in this article and the report attached are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the SDG Philanthropy Platform. The SDG Philanthropy Platform is a global initiative that connects philanthropy with knowledge and networks that can deepen collaboration, leverage resources and sustain impact, driving SDG delivery within national development planning. It is led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), and supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Ford Foundation, Oak Foundation, Brach Family Charitable Foundation, and many others.
